Vault protector



Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,377. T. W. WILSON.

VAULT PROTECTOR.

FILED MAR. 31. 1921. 2 sum-sum 1.

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T. .W- WILSON. VAULT PROTECTOR.

FILED MAR. 3111921- Feb. 13,

Patented Feb. 13, 1923.

VAULT PROTECTOR.

Application filed March 31, 1921.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. VVILsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Halls, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vault Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vault protectors, and more particularly to a device to protect bank vaults against theft, and the primary object is to provide a device which when set for operation will cause the robber upon opening of the vault to become asphyxiated by poison gas or the like.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a device which will positively prevent the theft from being effected, due to the action of the poison gas upon the opening of the vault door.

A further object resides in providing a device which is composed of a tank of poison gas which is caused to be opened by the action of an electrically operated drill which is in turn actuated electrically upon the opening of the vault door.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisapplication Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vault, with parts broken away to show the electric motor therein;

Fig. 2 is a detail front elevation of the motor and apparatus actuating in connection with the gas tank;

Fig. 3 is a detail section through the drill and gas tank; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view with parts of the vault in sect-ion showing the electrical connection between the motor and the vault door.

In describing the invention I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which 1 designates a vault such as used in banks or other similar places of business in which many important documents are placed for safe-keeping, in which is provided the usual hinged door 2. This door is provided with a combination lock of any preferred type and se- Serial No. 457,230.

cured to that portion of the vault adjacent the upper end of the door, is a knife switch 3 or the like, including a pivoted spring actuated armature l which is thrown in connection with the switch upon the opening of the door, as clearly disclosed in Fig.

The knife switch connects through the medium of a wire 5 to a motor 6. The armature 4C connects through the medium of a wire 7 to a hand switch 8, the latter connecting with a battery 9 and in turn through a wire 10 to the motor 6, as clearly shown in the diagrammatic view illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus, it will be seen that upon opening the vault door 2 the arm t will be thrown in connection with the switch 3 and have a tendency to start the motor 6 in operation. The operation of the motor 6 will depend upon the closing of the switch 8 which is accomplished after the vault door is locked.

From this construction it will be seen that after the vault door has been locked and the time lock set an opening of this door when the switch 8 is closed will cause the arm 4 to complete an electrical circuit, whereby to start the motor 6 in operation, and it is upon the operation of this motor that poison gas or the like is caused to be discharged within the vault to have its natural effect upon the party who opens the door without authorization. This is accomplished through the medium of the apparatus herebelow described.

The motor 6 is preferably mounted upon a stand 11 and has a shaft 1.2 thereon upon which is mounted abevel gear 13. This bevel gear connects with an additional bevel gear 14 carried on the end of a shaft 15. The shaft 15 connects with a hollow drill shaft 16, and between this connection is a coil spring 17. The drill shaft 16 is guided through a bracket 18 carried on the stand 11, and the head of this drill is disposed immediately over a soft plug or closure 19 mounted in the top of a tank 20 which contains poisonous gases. This plug or closure is fitted in an opening in the top of the tank, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and the hollow drill shaft 16 is provided with open ings 21. as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be seen from this construction that upon the operation of the motor 6 the shaft 15 is caused to operate and the drill shaft 16 rotated and forced downwardly into engagement with the soft plug 19. A further operation of the motor will cause the drill to that force an opening inthis soft plug and the gases Within the tank 20 will thus be allowed to escape therethrough and through the openings 21 in the drill shaft. The effect of these gases will be to asphyxiate the robber and if sufficiently strong will cause his death.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eflicient means for carrying out the objects of theinvention, and while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is: i r

The combination With a tank adapted to contain gas, said tank having an opening therein and a soft plug introduced into said opening; of a hollow drill shaft supported immediately above said plug for rotation and reciprocatiomsaid shaft having ports in the sides thereof, an electrical motor in connection With said shaft, a door actuated switch means for energizing said motor at certain times wherebythe drill shaft will be caused to enter the plug and permit the escape of gas from'thetank upon actuation of the switch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS W. \VILSON. 

